Effects on HIV

A recent study appearing in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology stated that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) found in Green Tea can lead to the inhibition of HIV virus binding and may be used as a complementary therapy for HIV patients.
EGCG does this by competing for gp120 binding sites with HIV, and also protects the brain, which modern anti-retrovirals medicines cannot do, since they can’t pass the blood brain barrier.

Oxalates, including those found in all teas, help with HIV and general infections by mopping up free iron, leaving one less thing for the immune system to do. Oxalates chelate zinc as well, a crucial nutrient HIV uses to hijack a cell, as it has zinc fingers.